LG G3 vs Galaxy S5 Review, Comparison, and Price

Dec 24, 2014 02:04 AM EST

The LG G3 and the Samsung Galaxy S5
LG G3 vs. Samsung Galaxy S5: Similar phones, different features.

Two Korean manufacturers, LG and Samsung, have two different Android smartphones, the G3 and Galaxy S5, respectively.  When compared to each other, there are many similarities and differences that can make or break a deal with a new consumer. 

Design

If one were to put the G3 and the S5 side to side, one would notice a few differences in the overall shape and feel.  The S5 is made with Bauhaus simplicity in mind with the rectangular form following function, but the G3 went out of its way to be curved and ergonomic.  The G3 also has rear-mounted buttons for power and volume, an extremely unique feature as most smartphones, including the S5, have side buttons. 

One of the similarities between the G3 and the S5 is that they both use the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, running at 2.5 GHz, with an Adreno 330. The definite difference is their displays. The S5 has 1080p Super AMOLED panel which gives its 5.1-inch display a very clear view, but the G3 has a QuadHD 5.5-inch screen for UHD video with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. 

Camera

In discussing the camera, the S5 certainly has more Megapixels with 16 Megapixels on the rear, with the G3 having 13 Megapixels on its rear-facing camera.  As far as the front-facing cameras are concerned, they are both equal with 2.1 Megapixels.  Each of the cameras has varying degrees of focus that work well for them as well. 

Battery Life

As for the battery life, the LG is superior since it has a 3000 mAh, while the S5 comes with a 2800 mAh.  Depending on what you are using on each phone, such as the UHD video on the G3, it can drain the battery fast. 

One major difference between the two smartphones is that the G3 has a 1 Watt Amplified speaker on the back, and it is quite loud.  The S5 isn't quite as loud.  It should be noted the difference in the placement of the headphone jacks:  the G3 has theirs on the bottom, while the S5 is up on top. 

A unique feature of the G5 is its IP67 rating, meaning that it can survive for 30 minutes underwater, as deep as one meter. 

A recent article by Digital Trends called the G3 the winner in a face-off of the two phones, but each of these phones has its benefits.  Both of them are also expected to receive updates to their versions of Android soon. They are currently run Android 4.4 or KitKat, but are expected to receive updates to Android 5.0 or Lollipop. The S5 should receive its update sometime in early 2015, and the G3 might receive it earlier than that. 

As far as the price is concerned, the G3 is usually about $100 more expensive than the S5, probably due to its larger screen.